Project Support Officer – Grants

About Us

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and proactive individual to join our Early Years and Childcare team as a Project Support Officer - Grants.

The Education & Skills Directorate sits within the broader Department of Children, Young People and Learning, and plays a crucial part in delivering the West Sussex Plan to provide our children, young people and adults with the best education and start in life. Key outcomes for us as a County are that all children are ready for school, young people are ready for work or further education, and that all adults have access to high quality education and training. Working together we will do everything we can to make that happen.
We are ambitious for our children and families and are committed to improving early years and childcare services. You will be joining our Early Years and Childcare Teams at an exciting time as we begin the work required to roll out the government announced expansion of childcare and the development of an early years and childcare strategy.

The Role

Salary: £30,296 - £33,024 per annum

Location: Chichester with hybrid working.

Contract: Fixed Term Contract until 31 March 2026

For internal applicants applying for a secondment, please ensure that you obtain permission from your line manager before applying.

Working pattern: Full-time, 37 hours per week.

In this role, the postholder will work closely with the managers who oversee the Early Years and Childcare agenda on a range of projects and initiatives linked to the expansion. You will assist the managers, and their wider teams, by providing
day to day Project Support.
In particular, this role will support with the programme and capital funding linked to the childcare expansion.

• Programme funding: Funding for local authorities to deliver programme objectives, including to distribute to providers to set up new provision or expand existing provision.
• Capital funding: Funding for local authorities to support new / extended provision, including distribution to childcare providers.

What we need from you:

• Advanced analytical skills to interpret and manipulate varied and complex project information in relation to services required by the client.
• Able to scope out work and work across the team, managing time, planning work and meeting deadlines, priorities and targets, demonstrating emerging project management and task management skills.
• Clear and able communicator.
• Able to use a wide range of specialist software associated with the role within the team to carry out research, analyse documents and present data.
• Excellent literacy and numeracy skills.
• Good understanding of issues, risks, needs and priorities and able to consider this within a wider County framework.
• Computer literate.
• Relevant knowledge and experience of project management processes, procedures and policies.
• Experience of coaching and mentoring others.

What we offer you in return

We care hugely about wellbeing, allowing time for a good laugh, and developing our team to be the best they can be. Alongside this, we also offer the below benefits:

• A competitive salary.
• 27 days annual leave + bank holidays.
• A generous pension scheme, 20.70% employer contribution, (this is updated every 01.04).
• A strong supportive management team.
• Our employees are key to our success, so we encourage and support training including a range of apprenticeships.
• A range of discounts including Argos, Samsung, Asos, B&Q and more.
• Free access to employee assistant programmes.
• Gym membership.
• A range of commuting and business travel discount and initiatives.

For a full list of the benefits offered to you as a West Sussex County Council employee you can find them on our Rewards and Benefits page.

To Apply

For issues or regarding your application please contact hrrecruitment@westsussex.gov.uk.

Please contact katy.akrill@westsussex.gov.uk for an informal conversation about the role.

Sound like your next venture? Click apply below, upload your CV and cover letter, explaining how you meet the key skills in the attached job description.

The role may occasionally require walked site visits and attending outdoor events, which may occur during inclement weather, as well as a requirement to wear appropriate personal protective equipment. There is a regular and intrinsic requirement to communicate in English with members of the public.

Job Reference: CAFHE05087